Hair Design Stencil

ABSTRACT

A HAIR DESIGN STENCIL IS A STENCIL USED FOR CUFFING ACCURATE AND CONSISTENT DESIGNS INTO HAIR USING A FLEXIBLE AND STURDY DEVICE THAT IS SECURED WITH A STRAP. THE VOID IN THE STENCIL IS USED AS A GUIDE THROUGH WHICH HAIR CLIPPERS ARE NAVIGATED TO TRANSFER THE DESIGN INTO THE HAIR. THE STENCIL CAN BE MANUFACTURED BY MOLD INJECTION, STAMP, LASER CUT, OR 3D PRINTER.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Individuals may have designs “carved” into a hairstyle as a form of artistic expression. This styling technique is sometimes referred to as a “hair tattoo” and can be achieved on a part of the head where the hair is cut down to a length that is close to the scalp. The contrast between where the hair is left relatively longer and where the hair is cut very close to the scalp leaves an impression or image in the shape of the desired design. Barbers and hairstylists typically cut these designs “freehand” or without any guide, template or stencil. When cut freehand, the designs are subject to inconsistency and inaccuracy with respect to the recipient's intentions. This stencil was invented to provide a stable and rigid guide for the stylist to follow with the hair clipper for precise and consistent designs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The hair design stencil is manufactured of a durable and flexible plastic such that it will be strong enough to provide resilience to a machine hair clipper with metal cutting blades, yet flexible enough to bend to the contours of an individuals head. The stencil must also be thin enough so that the design may be directly transferred onto the hair with the clipper while the stencil is strapped on the individual's head. The material must also be sturdy enough such that when strapped securely to the head the shape of the design will not be distorted from the tension of the strap, which must hold it securely enough to resist the manipulations of the stylist when maneuvering the clipper throughout the stencil's void.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1.—“Hair design stencil”

This figure shows a stencil with its primary features of a sample design (“star”) as well as the strap loops used to secure the stencil to the subject's, head.

FIG. 2—“Hook-and-loop strap”

This figure shows a strap that would be used'to attach the stencil to the subject's head. The strap uses fabric hook-and-loop technology where the strap has hooks on one side and loops on the other side. The ends are folded over and stitched so that the hook side will then face the loop side when slipped through the strap hole on the stencil.

FIG. 3—“Strap attached to stencil”

This figure shows how the strap is attached to the stencil by loop the strap through the hole and fastening it to itself. Where the end of the strap comes back to the other portion of the strap, the hook side is exposed for attachment.

FIG. 4—“Strap and stencil application”

This figure shows the strap secured to the subject's head and a stylist approaching with the clipper for installation of the design using a direct-cut method where the design is transferred onto the head directly while the stencil is still attached serving as a guide.

FIG. 5—“Sample use application”

This figure shows how the sample design (“star”) would appear after having been cut into the subject's hair using the stencil as a guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The hair design stencil is a tool used by barbers and hair stylists to cut designs into hair styles. Without this guide, designs are done freehand and are subject to inconsistencies and inaccuracies with respect to the intent of the recipient.

The stencil itself is made of a durable and flexible hard plastic (FIG. 1). The plastic must be durable enough to provide resilience to the cutting blades of the clipper, yet flexible enough to adapt to the contours of the subject's head. It can be manufactured by mold injection, stamp, laser cut, or 3D printer.

The stencil should be sturdy enough such that the design void (that is used as the guide for the clipper) will maintain its shape even when under tension of the strap that holds the stencil onto the subject's head (FIG. 4). This is to facilitate a clean transfer of the image that is true to the intended design and free of any distortion resulting from the tension of the strap. The stencil should also be sturdy enough to avoid breaking when the strap is tightened. 

1. A hair design stencil comprised of a thin, flexible and durable plastic with a void for the purpose of guiding a hair clipper for cutting a design into one's hair and two additional voids used for the securing strap as well as a fabric hook-and-loop strap used to secure the stencil to one's head. 